Aerial-navigation apparatus.



P'ATENTED MAY 24, 1904. 0. F. MORRISON.

AERIAL NAVIGATION APPARATUS. IO I A P P L A T I 0 N P I L E D M AR. 211902. RENEWED APR 7,1904.

N 0 M 0 D E L.

No. 761,053. PATENTED MAY 24, 1904.

U. I. MORRISON.

AERIAL NAVIGATION APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 21 1902. RENEWED APB. 7 1904. N0 MODEL.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented May 24, 1904.

UNITED ST T S PATENT OFFICE.-

CHARLES F. MORRISON, OF OORNPLANTER, PENNSYLVANIA.

AERIAL-NAVIGATION APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 761,053, dated May 24,1904. Application filed March 21, 1902. Renewed April 7, 1904. SerialNo. 202,081, (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES F. MORRISON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Oornplanter, in the county of Warren and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inAerial Navigation; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

My invention relates to improvements in what may be termed aerialpracticing machines or apparatus. It is directed to cultivating orpromoting particularly the art of aerial navigation, and to.incidentallyprovide for physical recreation or exercise.

It consists of the combination of parts or features, including theirconstruction and arrangement, substantially as hereinafter more fullydisclosed, and specifically pointed out by the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating the preferred embodiment ofmy invention, Figure l is a side elevation. Fig. 2 is a verticalcross-section. Fig. 2 is a broken detailed sectional view. Fig. 3 is abroken plan view; and Fig. 4 is a modification showing the applicationof my invention as, for instance, in a hall or indoors.

In carrying out my invention I suitably erect at a proper interval orintervals apart poles or supports 1 1, say, about twenty or thirty feetin height and having near their upper ends cross-pieces l 1, suitablybraced to said poles, as at 1". To said cross-pieces are suitablyconnected, at their ends preferably, angular iron rails 2, onepreferably arranged upon each side of said poles, although only one railmay be secured upon or carried by said poles and their cross-pieces, asmay be desired. Of course cables or wires may be substituted for saidrails and equally serve the purpose of my invention in this respect.Upon said rails are borne trucks or carriages 3,with their wheels orrolls 3 traveling upon the lateral or horizontal portions of said rails.Said trucks or carriages may be of the construction shown, preferablycomprising approximately U-shaped body portions embrac ing said railslaterally, the upper portions of their arms carrying the rolls or wheels3*, above referred to. From said trucks or carriages depend, preferably,stout helical or coiled springs or suspenders 4, each having a swivelconnection therewith, formed, preferably, of a ring-ended cylindric stud4*, with an upper headed end loosely connected up with a ring or loop 4slipped upon the frame portion of said truck, as seen more especially byFig. 2. Through the coils of each spring is passed or inserted a rope 5or other suitable medium, secured to the ends of the spring and of suchlength or having sufficient slack to restrict the distention orelongation of the spring within required tension limits and yet permitthe full utilization of the elasticity or flexibility of the spring, aspresently seen.

To each spring or suspender i is secured a harness or frame 6 of anyordinary or ap proved construction for the reception of or applicationto the human body or the user as, for instance, such as adopted in someforms Of apparatus for aerial navigation. Said frame or harness isequipped with suitable means, as artificial wings or propellers 6,capable of actuation by the navigator or user to effect his flight orpropulsion through the air, although held in captivity by the connectionbetween said harness and the elevated rails aforesaid, which whileguarding against the possible precipitation of or harm to the userprovides for practice in aerial navigation, as is apparent. Thenavigator or user after reaching the end of his flight or movement inone direction can, by means of the swivel connection, as above noted,between the trucks and suspenders or springs reverse his position forreturn flight or movement. Also it will be observed that by means of thesprings or elastic suspenders the user or operator is pre vented frombeing subjected to violent concussions or jars, as would otherwise bethe case in event of being caught by a sudden contrary wind, saidsprings or suspenders, as is obvious, readily yielding, and thusbreaking, as it were, the force of the action of the wind upon theapparatus and operator.

As disclosed by the modification shown in Fig. 4:, I may provide forarranging the apparatus or machine in a hall or indoorsas, for instance,in a gymnasiumwhere calisthenics or physical culture is practiced. Insuch case I secure to the side wall or Walls and end Walls of the roomor hall near 'the ceiling horizontal bars or beams 7 braced in position,and suitably secure to said bars or beams the rails or acable 8, asshown, applying or suspending from said rails or cables by means oftrucks and elastic suspenders the Winged harness or frame, all asaforesaid explicable to theb'ody and equipped for its pro- 'pulsionthrough the air, means for the suspension of said frame or harness,means for,

supporting said suspending means, having a lateral tread, meansconnected up with said suspending means, and adapted to travel upon Isaid lateral tread, substantially as set forth.

2. An apparatus or machine of the character described, embracing aharness'or frame applicable'to the body and equipped for its propulsionthrough the air, an elastic suspending medium or suspenders for saidharness or frame, means fol-supporting said suspending medium, having alateral tread, and means adapted to travel upon said lateral tread andhaving connected thereto said suspending medium, substantially as setforth.

3. An apparatus of the character described, embracing a harness or frameapplicable to the body and equipped for its propulsion through the air,an elevated trackway having a lateral tread, a carriage or truck adaptedto travel upon said lateral tread, and an elastic or spring suspenderconnected to said truck or carriage and to said harness or frame, sub

stantially as set forth.

' 4:. 'An apparatus of the character-described,

embracing an elevated trackvvay having a lateral tread, a truck orcarriage adapted to travel upon said lateral tread, a frame or harnessapplicable to the body and equipped for its transportation or propulsionthroughthe air, and an elastic or spring suspender connected to saidtruck or carriage and to said frame or harness, said suspender having aswivel connection With said truck, substantially as set forth.

' 5. An apparatus of the character described, comprising an elevatedtrackway, a frame or harness applicable to the body and equipped for itstransportation or propulsion through the air, and an elastic orspringsuspender connected to a truck or carriage, traveling upon saidtrackway, and to said frame or harness, said spring-suspender havingpassing therethrough means'for limiting its distention or elongation,substantially as set forth.

6. An apparatus of thecharacter described, comprising "an elevatedtrackvvay, a frame or harness applicable to the body and equipped forits transportation or propulsion through the air, and an elastic orspring suspender connected to a truck orcarriage, traveling upon saidtrackway,' and to said frame or harness, and a ropeextending throughthecoils of said springsuspender' and secured thereto at its ends,substantially as set forth.

7. Anaerial device comprising an elevated Way or track, a hangerarranged to travel along thesame, and means for suspending a person fromthe hanger, comprising a main spring and a sling carried thereby havingan extended engagement with the body of the person.

8. An aerial device comprising an elevated 'Way or track, a hangerfitted to travel along the same, means for yieldingly suspending aperson from the hanger, and means operated by the person for propellingthe hanger along the way or track. I

In testimonywhereof I aflix my signature in presence of tWo Witnesses.

CHARLES FJMORRISON.

Witnesses: D. Gm. ST ART, Y

J. (WM. MISTER.

